Display device



May E2, gv.. A, J, ELLERN L@ k DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l O y 5' y L 95 /A 9/ 12, I MW 0000 00 o ooo Yigg oooo A. J. ELLERN DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 24.

May 12, 1931.

1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1931 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE T d'. LLEBN. 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR T0 TRAVELAJ) OORPGBATION, 0E' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CURPORATION OF ILLINOIS nrsrnav nnvrcn Application tiled ot0'ber24, 1928. Serial N0. 314,701.

This invention relates to display devices and more particularly to advertising signs em loying a movable light-transmitting belt which bears'the words, pictures or other g symbols to be displayed.-

ln traveling belt signs heretofore in use, the display belt has been supported edgewise and has traveled around vertically disposed rollers. In such prior devices, it was necessary to provide a friction brake element which engage the belt immediately prior to its entry into the display zone in order to hold the display portion of the belt taut and to secure it agamst wabbling.

- wherein: y

Figure 1 is a perspective of a display de The friction brakeelements employed in prior devices were objectionable, mainly because they had a tendency to shorten the lives of the traveling belts which they engaged.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a display device having improved means for su porting a traveling belt without the use o friction brakes or similar elements; to provide supporting means of this kind which are adapted to support the belt in a horizontal4 position during its travel throu h the display zone; to provide an improve form of magazine adapted to permit that portion of the belt which is not in the display zone to accumulate in folds so as to conserve space for a belt of considerable length; to provide improved guide means for the belt gto provide improved means for artificially illuminating the portion of thebelt in the display zone; to'v provide improved means for reflecting the image of that portion of the belt in the display zone; to provide improved means for coloring the light rays reflected by said reecting means; and to provide a dis'- play device of this kind which is adapted to employ daylight interchangeably with and in place of the articial light.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,

vice, to which this invention. is applied; the front window panel being removed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Y

tween a source of light and a mirror arranged to reflect the images 'of the indicia.

By the Word indicia it is intended to 'mean any words, symbols, emblems, figures, letters, pictorial representations or the like.

In the specific construction herein shown, the device comprises a box-like housing l, having a source of artificial light 2 arran ed to cause diused light rays to pass throug a display belt 3 to permit the images of the indicia on the belt to be reflected in a mirror 4.

The housing 1 may be of any desired size and shape and is preferably made of sheet metal. lnthe form shown, it comprises a bottom 5, end walls 6, a front Wall 7, removable rear wall 8, and a top 9. The front wall 7 has a centrally located window 10 provided with a suitable transparent ane 1l mounted in angle bars 12. If desired, a separate lfratrie member may be mounted o n the housing 1 in front of the wall 7 for supporting the pane 11 and for embellishing the device.

Formed within the housing 1,'is an upper compartment 13, a central compartment 14 and a lower compartment 15. Extending The spaces between the partitions 18 and' the end walls 6 provide passages 19 and 2O communicating with the upper and lowerl compartments 13 and 15 respectively.

j The partition 16 forms the means for supr. LJ

orting a portion of the displa belt 3 in a rizontal plane during its trave through the display zone, and, therefore, this partition is made of suitable transparent material, such suitable material.

as glass, which will permit the light rays to pass downwardly to the mirror 4. If desired, opaque portions 21 may be formed on the partition 16 to shut out all light rays except those passing through the belt 3.

In the form shown, the artificial illuminating means 2 comprises a battery of incandescent bulbs 22, supported in sockets 23, which are mounted on a hollow base 24 supported on the partition 16 at the rear of the housing.

The bulbs 22 are located rearwardly of the belt 3 and, therefore, only diffused rays of light pass downwardly through the display portion of the belt. This improved arrangement of parts prevents the images oli' the light filaments from being reflected in the mirror 4.

In order to permit the device to be operated as a daylight sign, the top 9 of the housing 1 is provided with a movable section 25, which may be shifted to a vertical position directly in front of the bulbs 22, as shown in Fig. 5. thereby hiding the bulbs 'from view and permitting the daylight to enter the housingeat a point above the display belt.

The section 25 is supported on angle bars 26 which are provided with openings 27 arranged to permit the section 25.to move downwardly when it is raised to a vertical position. The inner edge of the section 25 is bent to provide a dange 28 adapted to engage the section oit the top 9, and the forward edge thereoll is bent to provide a handle part 29.

The display screen 3 may be made oi'i any In the form shown, it comprises a tief-Libie belt in which the indicia are formed by means ot per'liorations 30.

ne belt 3 is supported horizontally on the partition 16 and passes around guide rollers 31 which are journaled in the passages 'i9 and 20.

The greater portion or the belt 3 accumulates in folds in magazine 32 located in the compartment llhe magazine 32 has a bottono member 33 and an inner wall 34. Both ends of the magazine 32 are open to permit the free passage oi". the belt 3.

Mounted in the magazine 32, are guide elements 35 arranged at suitable positions for straightening the belt as it leaves the magazine and enters the passage 19.

The belt 3 may be driven in any 'suitable manner. In the form shown, the belt driv- .ing mechanism includes a pair of rollers 36 and 37 arranged to grip the belt adjacent the inlet of the magazine 32. The rollerv 36 has a pulley 38 connected by a belt 39 to a motor 40 mounted in the compartment 15 and controlled by a switch 41.

The mirror 4 is located in the compartment 14 directly behind the window 10. In order to permit the mirror to be angularly adjusted relative to the display ortion of the belt 3,

the mirror is mounted in a frame 42, which is pivotally connected to the end partitions 18 by pins 43.

Mounted on the .frame 42, are bolts 44, which engage arcuate guide slots 45 in the partitions 18. Wing nuts 46 on the bolts 44 permit the mirror to be secued in adjusted position.

When it is desired to color the light rays reflected in. the mirror, a color imparting medium is placed between the mirror and the light source.

In the form shown, the color medium comprises a glass plate 47, of any desired color, which is removably supported in channel guides 48 secured to the end walls 6 above the plane ofthe belt 3.

In operation, the belt 3 is continuously driven at a .speed which will enable the ob server to readily read the reflected characters. rl`he light from the lamps 22 is'diffused' and passes downwardly through the colored plate 47 and that portion of the belt 3 which is supported horizontally bythe plate 16.

The images of the moving indicia are reflected in the mirror 4 soiasto be readable through the window 10.

When the belt reaches the magazine 32, 1t accumulates in folds and then as it reaches the guides 35 it is straightened before passing through the passage 19. rihe plate A16 supports the belt horizontally in the display zone, so as to eliminate the use of friction brake elements.

When it is desired `lto operate the device as a daylight sign, the top section' 25 is shifted into position in `liront of the bulbs 22 so as to permit the daylight to enter through the 'top of the housing.

.Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous details oi the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit or this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

. l.y it device oit the class described comprising a light-transmitting display screen bearing indicia, a source of light on one side of the plane of said screen, a mirror located on the opposite side of said plane for reflecting the images of said indicia, a movable partltion adapted to be shifted to a position between said source of light and said screen, end means formoving said screen to cause the images to move on said mirror.

2. device'of the class described comprising a housing having a window therein, an endless light transmitting display screen movably mounted in said housing and bearing indicla., means for supporting a portion of said screen in a horizontal plane, a source of light above said plane, a mirror located below said plane and adjacent said window for reflecting the images of said indicia, a

top on said housing, a portion of said top being movable into a position between said source of light and'said screen, and means for moving said screen.

3. A device of the class described comprising a housing having a Window therein, an endless light transmitting display screen movably mounted in said housing and bearing indicia, means .for supporting a portion of said screen in a horizontal plane, a source of artiicial light located behind said screen portion and above said plane, a mirror located below said plane and disposed transversely to said screen portion, and a top on said housing, a portion of said to being movable into a position between sai source of light and said screen portion to permit daylight to enter said housing above said screen.

4. A'dcvice of the class described vcomprising a housing having a windowtheren, .an endless light transmitting display screen movably mounted in said housing and bearing indicia.` means for supporting a portion of said screen in a horizontal plane, a source of articial light located behind said screen portion and above said plane a mirror located below said plane and disposed transverselyto said screen portion, said mirror ror and said source of'light, and a top on said.

being adjustable angularly relative to said screen portion, and a top on said housing, a portion of said top being movable into a position between said source of light and said screen portion to permit daylight to enter said housing above said screen.

5. A device of the class described comprising a housing having a Window therein, a

-an endless light transmitting display screen movably mounted in said housing and bearing indicia, means for supporting a portion of said screen in a horizontal plane, a. source of artiiicial light located behind said screen portion .and above said plane, a mirror 1ocated below said plane and disposed trans-4 versely to said screen portion, a color im-j parting medium located between said mirhousing, a portion of said top being movable into a position between said source of light and said screen portion to permitdaylight to enter said housing above said screen.

Signed at Chicago this 20th day ofctober, i928. g

ALBERT di'. ELLERN. 

